AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 201, 18 November 1864, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

(From the Weekly News, November 12.)

The absence of any fresh topic of interest renders the task of recording the events of the past week an easy one. There has been nothing to break the monotony to which we referred in our last, and a stranger landing in Auckland, and unacquainted with the fact, would never suppose he had set foot in the capital of a colony torn by civil war, and was at the head-quarters of an army of occupation. The main strength of the army is at Otahuhu, waiting, like Micawber, for " something to turn up,” and ready for action when wanted. Of course there are those who aver that

they will never ffie wanted ; that the last shot has been fired in Now Zealand ; and that to borrow a phrase of the Governor’s, just before his departure for Taranaki, New Zealand was never so pacific. There are those, however, who bold a different opinion, and who look upon the present inaction as the calm that proceeds the storm. We incline to the latter view; and we will only be too glad to find ourselves disappointed.

The native ambassadors sent by the Governor to the high and mighty chiefs in arms against the Queen’s Majesty, do not seem to have effected much. Their mission has been barren hitherto. It has failed, so far as the purpose of the Governor is concerned; and ho will be without the shadow of an excuse to justify the violation of the Constitution to his masters in Downing-street. If Sir George Grey could have pointed to the fruits of the proclamation, by appealing to the submission of the rebels in arms, it is more than probable that,Downing-street would have held him blameless far trampling upon the Constitution ; but the ■chances are the other way when the result is a palpable failure. Besides the Governor cannot cannot plead the cause of humanity in his own behalf; for he has sown the dragon’s teeth, and will reap a plentiful crop of armed warriors on the plains of New Zealand, when the planting season is oyer, who will to a certainty trample underfoot those nice sentiments of brotherly love which it delighteth the Governor to inculcate, and Exeter Hall to proclaim. There have been indication of the replies of the potent rebels ; and they are by no means assuring. When told they are to cede territory in the Waikato to the satisfaction of the General and the Governor, they are reported to have made the pertinent remark: “We thought the Governor and General took that land. If they have not taken it, and it is still ours, we will not cede it. The Governor must pay for what wo are inclined to sell, and we don’t want to sell any.” This is substantially the reply of the Maoris to the cession overture, and a characteristic reply it is. Wo would have been greatly surprised if it had been otherwise. The Maori has a keen perception of right; he never gives any tiling without its equivalent in some shape ; and he is not likely to give up to the Governor the sacred soil of the Waikato, from which, a year ago, ho drove the law and the gospel and civivilization in the persons of magistrates, missionaries, printers, postmaster, and artisans. “If you took-the land (say they) keep it; if you did not take it, we won’t give it to you.” And so the plot thickens. The Maori does not consider himcelf defeated ; lie thinks the Governor has had the worst of it. Meanwhile, the planting goes merrily on. The reverses of the last campaign are discussed, and the plan of the coming struggle debated in every native village and by every camp-fire. “ Kakino the Governor; the Governor is an old woman,” passes from lip to lip. The Maori prospect brightens. With a vigorous assault, at ail points within our lines, and a strong diversion in the North, by the enlarged from Kawau, there is a fair chance of expelling the hated pakelia from the country. Who would talk of ceding territory under these circumstances ‘i Who but the Governor ? “ Ivakino the Governor; the Governor is an old woman.” Thearrrival of the ‘ Queen’ from the Southern ports put us in possession of colonial news. From the tone of the Southern papers it is evident there is a desire to make the difficulties of the colony the pertext for an assault upon the prestige of Auckland. Mr. Weld is said to bo the coming man. He has been through the various southern provinces canvassing for support ; but we have confidence in him that he will not lend himself to any unprincipled proceedings. Mr. Weld’s character stands high as a politician. He is a man of scrupulous honour and integrity, and on that account there is not much danger of him lending his countenance to politicians who are actuated by less worthy motives, in an attempt to damage this provihee. Mr. Weld was Native Minister in the Stafford Government, and as such was a strong supporter of the war policy. The steamer to the North is beginning to attract more attention. We trust the undertaking will receive every encouragement. There is the greatest interest taken in the Kawakawa coal mines. The coal is proved to be superior to most English coal for smithy purposes, 20 per cent, hotter than Newcastle, and equal to the best English, for steam. Arrangements for working these mines will doubtless be made. We would recommend a better prospecting of district, with a view to lessen the distance between the shaft to the deep water landing.